Mqiki in final round of competition
BAY talent Asanda Mqiki is the only finalist from the Eastern Cape to have reached the final round of the ESP Afrika Young Legends competition and is now in line to win the opportunity of performing at next year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
Voting has opened and the public have until midnight on Monday to support Mqiki on the ESP Afrika website.
ESP Afrika are the organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, to be held in March, and this is the third year they are running a search for unsigned jazz talent from across the continent.
Two other Bay acts – Afro-soul outfit Legato as well as Ulagh WIlliams and the TwoTone Band – had made the Top 20.
Described as an “Afro-Soul revelation with an insane amount of control over her notes”, Mqiki has a signature style bringing together jazz, soul and R&B.
“I’m so excited about reaching the finals and having my music recognised by such a prestigious panel,” she said.
“This is an incredible opportunity to perform to the world, proudly representing Port Elizabeth, at the most important jazz festival in Africa.
Mqiki’s band is key to her success and brings together top young local musicians, several of them Nelson Mandela University graduates: Thoba Goba on drums, Mthokozisi Mabuza on first keys, Qaqambile Qingana on second keys, Grant Allison on bass guitar, Joash Soobramoney on tenor sax and Kamva Goba on percussion.
Earlier this year, the band toured to Johannesburg, playing at legendary jazz club The Orbit, and to Bloemfontein, receiving standing ovations and encore demands.
They are working towards recording their first full-length album in Cape Town.
Mqiki’s other recent highlight shows include headlining the Cape Town Festival with Vicky Sampson and Jimmy Nevis, and playing at the Oppikoppi music festival in Limpopo.
Internationally she was the featured African artist for the first edition of the online Lovebusk festival last year, and has twice performed by invitation at the Gothenberg Culture Festival in Sweden.
ý Vote for Asanda Mqiki at The winner, to be chosen by votes alone, will be announced on Tuesday.